Upcoming WordPress Changes to Look Out for in 2020

From a simple publishing system that allows people to write and post blogs, it now powers different websites — ecommerce stores, forums, job boards, and more.

And it shows no signs of stopping.

Now we’re on our way to 2020 — what updates does WordPress have in store? And how will these affect your existing website?

Here are 2020 forecasts for WordPress, along with tips on how your website can keep up with the changes.

Big WordPress Changes Coming in 2020 and Beyond

Gutenberg will revolutionise how people create content

Gutenberg made headlines last year when it was released as the new WordPress editor.

As a block-based editor, Gutenberg makes it easier to build content and layouts. The building blocks include regular text, images, video embeds, widgets, and more. It’s expected to reduce extra plugins needed for contact forms and columns.

This makes it ideal for media-rich pages and posts.

And while not a full-blown page editor yet — Gutenberg’s end goal is to “go beyond the post into page templates and ultimately, full site customization.”

As of now, the Gutenberg plugin is still in beta, with developers releasing it as a plugin to gather user feedback. It is expected to be released to the core platform soon.

How to keep up: Give it a try!

If you’re not tech-savvy person, Gutenberg is the editor for you.

You can create eye-catching layout, add call-to-actions, and anchor links to your headings. There’s so much you can do to provide your audience a good reading experience.

Though Gutenberg’s reviews have been, erm, less than favourable — you can always test the plugin out for free.

WordPress will be more than just a CMS platform

If you’ve been keeping up with WordPress in the past months, you likely have heard of REST API.

REST, an acronym for Representational State Transfer, is an API that’s adopted by tech leaders like Facebook and Google. Developers prefer it thanks to its simple structure and use of lesser bandwidth.

For a while, REST API was an independent plugin that developers could experiment with. But its recent integration to the core platform signals WordPress’s move towards becoming a “fully-fledged application framework”.

How to keep up: Localise your content

Translate your content to their local language. While doing so, consider differences in spelling for each reg. For example, personalise and colour in British English is spelt as personalize and color in the U.S. respectively.

Also use terms that are specific and sensitive to your audience’s culture and lifestyle. Take note of idioms that may mean one thing for a region but a different one in another.

Lastly, localisation does not just involve text content, but also visuals.

Some colours, symbols, and images mean differently for each region. So use the right ones for your website!

There’ll be more accessibility

The REST API doesn’t just make it possible for developers to create WordPress-based apps. It also allows developers to make platforms that are user-friendly for the sensory-impaired.

Coupled with the existing WP Accessibility plugin and the WordPress Accessibility Handbook, there’s a lot of room for websites and apps that are usable for everyone.

How to keep up: Build your website with accessibility in mind

Good user experience is inclusive. It considers the needs of users from all walks of life — including the specially-abled.

That said, make your website more accessible to them.

Add toggles so users can adjust contrast, font size, and saturation.

Write descriptive content for screen readers to understand. That includes your call-to-action buttons, image alt texts, anchor texts for links, and many others.

How to keep up: Get a WordPress hosting service

With an intuitive content editor, tools for better localisation and accessibility, and opportunities to scale, it’s easy to build an online presence that attracts traffic, generate leads, and earns revenue.

Conclusion

The future looks bright for WordPress. All these predictions pose a good run for the platform in 2020 and the following years to come.

What about the future of your website?

Take note of these fearless forecasts as you strengthen your website and make improvements. When your website keeps up with progress, its future will be bright, too.